Swachhta 50-50 Campaign gains momentum in Bandipora

• DC joins Cleanliness Drive, reviews Baseline Survey

BANDIPORA: As part of the ongoing Swachhta 50-50 campaign, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, visited Sonerwani and reviewed the field-level implementation of the campaign, including the baseline survey and cleanliness activities being undertaken with active community participation.

During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner took an on-the-spot review of the QR code-based baseline survey being conducted by Anganwadi workers and educational institutions under the campaign. She interacted with Anganwadi workers and reviewed the process of collecting household-level information to assess existing waste management practices and support effective planning and monitoring of the initiative.

The DC also personally participated in a cleanliness and waste-removal drive in Sonerwani, along with Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Bandipora Aijaz Ali, Rural Development Department officials, Anganwadi workers, local residents and shopkeepers. She joined the participants in removing waste from the site and stressed the importance of sustained efforts to prevent open dumping.

At Government Middle School Sonerwani, the Deputy Commissioner interacted with local residents, shopkeepers, Anganwadi workers and students and emphasised that cleanliness cannot be achieved through government efforts alone, calling for active participation of every citizen.

The DC highlighted that the Swachhta 50-50 initiative is based on the principle of 50 percent Government and 50 percent public participation, with the objective of bringing behavioural change at the household and community level through source segregation, home composting, scientific waste disposal, responsible use of resources and reduction of single-use plastic.

She informed the public that wet waste will not be picked up from households from September 1, 2026, and urged residents to ensure proper segregation and management of wet waste at source, including through home composting. She stressed that citizens must adopt responsible waste management practices to make the initiative sustainable.

The Deputy Commissioner urged citizens to cooperate with the field functionaries undertaking the baseline survey and awareness activities and encouraged households and shopkeepers to adopt proper waste segregation and disposal practices. She stressed that collective responsibility and sustained community participation were essential for making the campaign successful and ensuring a cleaner and healthier Bandipora.

District Programme Officer ICDS Bandipora Yaar Ali Khan and Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Aijaz Ali, besides RDD officials, Anganwadi workers, local residents, shopkeepers and students, were present on the occasion.